A cool spring has added to a ''real tough'' start to the fruit season for some Central Otago orchardists and taken its toll on the apricot crop, which will be lighter than usual.

Roxburgh fruit grower and Summerfruit New Zealand chairman Gary Bennetts said although blossom had opened earlier than usual, cold weather since then had slowed the season down. The cool weather had affected pollination as temperatures over 15degC were needed for pollen to transfer. Mr Bennetts said the apricot crop seemed lighter than usual as a result.

Summerfruit vice-chairman and general manager of 45 South Tim Jones, of Cromwell, said it was still early days in the fruit season but the start was ''real tough''. ''It's been cold with lots of frosts so we look forward to some fine weather. We've been teased by the odd fine day.''

The company's orchard had been on the edge of a hailstorm which hit Cromwell and Bannockburn last week. ''That was a bit of a nervy time but it didn't cause too much damage to our cherry blocks. When hail hits cherries, because they're on a stem, they swing , so they don't take the full impact of the hail,'' Mr Jones said.

However, some of the orchard's apples and nectarines were affected. Kevin Paulin, of Clyde Orchards, estimated the season was 10 days behind this time last year.Fruit grown by the company at Bannockburn - mostly flat peaches and nectarines - had been ''quite severely damaged'' by the hailstorm.

Cromwell orchardist Mark Jackson said his early cherries would not be ready to harvest until next week, about a week later than last year. His orchard was also on the edge of the hailstorm and he said cherries had enough leaf cover to protect them. About 3% of his apple and nectarine crop had received some hail damage.

Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/